Stilt

ABSTRACT

A stilt formed integrally in one piece from a single length of tubing (e.g. aluminum tubing such as used for manufacturing furniture) with a stirrup in the form of a loop in the tubing. The ground engaging or leg portion of the stilt extends underneath the integral stirrup and is preferably directly underneath the center of the stirrup or loop while the upper shaft portion which fits behind the armpit of the user is approximately tangential to one side of the stirrup or loop. The bottom end of the stilt is provided with a cane or crutch tip while the upper end is closed by a plug formed of plastic or other material.

United States Patent 1 Black, Jr.

[ 11 3,756,596 [451 Sept. 4, 1973 OTHER PUBLICATIONS The Propellum,August, 1887, upper left-hand figure.

Primary Examiner-Richard C. Pinkham Assistant Examiner-R. T. StouffcrAttorney-Fred S. Lockwood [57] ABSTRACT A stilt formed integrally in onepiece from a single length of tubing (e.g. aluminum tubing such as usedfor manufacturing furniture) with a stirrup in the form of a loop in thetubing. The ground engaging or leg portion of the stilt extendsunderneath the integral stirrup and is preferably directly underneaththe center of the stirrup or loop while the upper shaft portion whichfits behind the armpit of the user is approximately tangential to oneside of the stirrup or loop. The bottom end of the stilt is providedwith a cane or crutch tip while the upper end is closed by a plug formedof plastic or other material.

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STILT This invention relates to an improved stilt which is formed in onepiece from a single length of tubing. At least one complete loop isformed in the tubing to serve as a stirrup for the users foot.Preferably the leg or ground engaging portion of the stilt extendsdirectly beneath the center of the stirrup or loop while the upper shaftportion extends tangentially from one side of the loop.

The object of the invention, generally stated, is the provision ofimproved stilts which are structurally strong, economical andinexpensive from the standpoints of costs of material and ease ofmanufacture and which are easy and comfortable to use, durable andlightweight.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an improved stiltof the type described which is adapted to have the stirrup in the formof a loop formed at any desired position intermediate the opposite endsof the stilt, whereby the same tooling can be used to form stilts ofdifferent lengths as desired.

Certain other objects of the invention will, in part, be obvious andwill, in part, appear hereinafter. For a more complete understanding ofthe nature and scope of the invention, reference may now be had to thefollowing detailed description thereof taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a stilt forming one embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary view on enlarged scale taken on line 2-2 of FIG.1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view on enlarged scale taken on line 3-3 of FIG.1; and,

F IG. 4 is a sectional view on enlarged scale taken on line 4 -4 of FIG.1.

Referring to the drawings, a stilt is indicated generally at 5 in FIG. 1which is formed of a single piece of tubing so as to have a lower groundengagingleg portion 6, an intermediate foot-receiving stirrup portion 7and an upper shaft portion 8. A preferred material from which the stilt5 may be formed is structural aluminum tubing such as is used for makingfurniture and the like. However, the tubing can be formed from othermaterials including steel and plastics.

Although tubing of circular cross section will normally be used informing the stilts 5, it will be understood that the tubing can be ofeliptical, square or polygonal cross section. However, tubing ofcylindrical cross section is preferred from the standpoint of economyand ease of working. The loop or stirrup 7 is formed in the tubing usingbending equipment of known commercial type. The stirrup or loop 7 willcomprise at least one complete turn of the tubing. While additionalturns could be used to provide a wider surface for the user's instep,ordinarily this will not be required and the cost in material andmanufacturing can be minimized by using only one complete turn.

It will be noted that the lower leg or ground engaging portion 6 of thestilt extends approximately directly under the center of the stirrup orloop 7 so that the axis of the leg portion 6 is approximately o-axialwith a vertical diameter through the stirrup or loop 7. The upper shaftportion 8 is generally tangential to the loop or stirrup portion 7.

The above relationship between the leg 6, stirrup 7 and shaft 8 ishighly desirable from the standpoint of security, balance and ease ofuse of the stilt 5. Thus, the leg portion 6 will be directly under theusers foot while the shaft portion 8 is appropriately offset to one sideof the stirrup or loop 7 so that the upper portion thereof readily fitsbehind the user's armpit.

It will be understood that the stilts 5 will be used in pairs and thatthey can be of any desired length and proportions. It has been foundthat two sizes will be adequate for most children and young adults whowill be using the stilts. Thus, for smaller children the leg portion 6may be 7 inches long and the shaft portion 46 inches long while forlarger children with more experi-' ence the leg portion 6 can be 12inches long and the shaft portion 53 inches long. The stirrup or loopportion 7 can be the same dimension for both sizes within insidediameter of approximately 4% inches. Aluminum tubing havingseven-eighths inch outside diameter and a wall thickness of from 0.047to 0.063 inch is satisfactory. The thinner wall thickness may be usedfor the smaller stilts while the thicker thickness may be used for thelonger stilts. It will be understood that the foregoing dimensions areby way of illustration and are not intended to be critical or limiting.

If desired, the stilts can be color anodized or otherwise finished.

The bottom end of each stilt 5 is desirably provided with a conventionalcane or crutch tip 10 while the upper end of the shaft portion 8 isclosed by a plastic plug cap 11 which covers the upper edges of thetubular material.

I claim:

1. A stilt formed in one piece from a single lengthof tubing and havinga lower ground-engaging leg portion,

. a stirrup portion in the form of a completely closed tubing.

t t i k

1. A stilt formed in one piece from a single length of tubing and havinga lower ground-engaging leg portion, a stirrup portion in the form of acompletely closed loop in said tubing, and an upper shaft portion, saidlower ground-engaging leg portion being approximately co-axial with thevertical diameter of said stirrup portion, and said upper shaft portionbeing approximately coaxial with a vertical tangent to said stirrupportion.
 2. The stilt of claim 1 formed of lightweight metallic tubing.